Unfurl them when admirer is absent (6)

I believe the answer is:

fanout

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'unfurl them' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'admirer is absent' is the wordplay.
'admirer' becomes 'fan' (fan is a kind of admirer).
'is absent' becomes 'out' (similar in meaning).
'fan'+'out'='FANOUT'

'when' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for fanout that I've seen before include "Spread wide like lady's cooler - admirer not in" , "Scatter or spread like hand-held cooler" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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